Combined feed-water filter and heater.



No. 787,958. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905. H. G. TABRETT & W. LEWIN. COMBINEDFEED WATER FILTER AND HEATER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 11,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

iwi/taxman No. 787,958. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905. H. C. TABRETT & W.LEWIN. COMBINED FEED WATER FILTER AND HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11.1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED APR. 25, 1905 H. G. TABRETT & W. LEWIN.

COMBINED FEED WATER FILTER AND HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented April 25, 1905.

TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY U. TABRETT AND \V ALTER LFHVIY, OF SAN FRANCISCO,

ALIF ORNl A.

COMBINED FEED-WATER FILTER AND HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,958, dated April25, 1905.

Application filed May 11, 1904. Serial No. 207,467.

To all III/mm, it may (ZOII/(ZKII'L:

Be it known that we, H nxav U. Tanan'r'r, rcsiding at 358%? Twenty-firststreet,and \VAL'rnu LEWIN, residing at 1227 Page street, in the city ofSan Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California,citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Combined Feed- Water Filter and Heater; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof said invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to whichit most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in combined feed-water heatersand filters; and it consists of the novel construction and arrangementofthe parts and the novel filtering mechanisms in particular.

In the operation of steam plants it is the practice to pass theexhaust-steam through the feed-water heater on its way to the condenser,thus conserving heat. In its passage through the engine the steamaccumulates quantities of oil, which must be extracted by filtrationbefore the water is suitable for repumping into the boiler. Heretoforethis process has involved a more or less complicated system ofindependent mechanisms, resulting in a considerable loss of heat beforethe exhaust can be condensed, cleansed, and repumped into the boilers.

The objects of this invention are to combine within a single apparatus afeed-water heater and filter whereby the water can be passed directlyfrom the feed-pumps through the combination, losing as little heat aspossible /;/2 route to the boiler; to so arrange the elements of thecombination that they can be used independent of each other or the waterbe passed directly to the boiler, and to effect economy of space,weight, first cost, cost of efficiency, and durability.

Broadly, the invention consists of an annular chamber divided intocompartments and headed top and bottom with radiator-tubes extendingbetween said top and bottom, with the usual manner. maintenance,simpliclty of parts, increased ports for the inlet and outlet of steamto said tubes and ports for the inlet and outlet of the feed-watercirculating through said tubes, and suitable valve-controlarrangementforming, in effect, a feed-waterheater. Combined with theforegoing heater and cooperating therewith is a filter consisting of asealed dome, closing the top of the well forming the center of theannular heating-chainber. lVithin said center well a dependent slottedtube i diametrically reduced at the bottom to communicate with apacking-gland. The dome is divided by a flanged tube extending upwardfrom within the mouth of the said slotted tube, then flanged outwardlyto engage the walls of the dome, thus forming an annular hermetic spacewithin thedome. The filtering fabric consists of an annular web rolledinwardly upon itself, the filteringbody extendingfrom the hermetic spacebetween the flanged tube, within the slotted tube, downwardly throughthe said gland, whereby the feedwater must pass from the said domethrough the filtering fabric to escape to the center well within thesaid annular chamber, thence to the boilers.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combined heater andfilter constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2. is avertical cross-section of the same on the line .0 .r, Fig. i. Fig. 3 isa plan in cross-section on the line ,1" w, Fig. 2. Fig. A isa similarview on the line .1 .r'", Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of analternative construction. Fig. 6 is a plan view in section of the sameon the line .12 11", Fig.

In detail the construction consists of the outer shell A, the innershell A, and the heads A and A, forming the annular chamber A. The tubesA extend between the heads A A, into which they are expanded in Theannular chamber A' is provided with the steam-inlet A and outlet A. Thetubes A are inserted from the bottom, which is closed by ring-door A,bolted with interposed gasket to the flanged shell A. The annulardivided compartments 1 and A are respectively formed top and bottom toprovide communication between the various sections of the chamber AAccess is had to the compartment A through the several doors A".

The filter consists of the inlet B through the valve B, controlled bythe valve-gate B and communicating through the port B with the dome B,into which the feed-water is introduced direct from the feed-pumps. Thecenter well A is separated from the dome B" by the dependent filter-tubeC, having the fiange C overhanging the edge and closing the mouth of thewell A This tube is diametrically reduced at C and fitted into anopening in the center of the floor of the well A The dome is divided bythe diaphragm C hermetically engaging the side walls of the/dome andhaving a dependent tubular extension C* entering within the mouth of thetube C, leaving a very slight circumferential clearance. An annularspace is thus formed within the dome adjacent the mouth of thefiltering-tube.

The filtering web C is of the nature of crash-toweling or any suitablefabric with the edges sewed or woven together along the longitudinaledges to form a tubular web. The filtering fabric is rolled inwardlyupon itself, as indicated in Fig. 2, and laid around the mouth of thefilter-tube and the diaphragm-C forced into place. The exposed edge ofthe filtering fabric is pulled from the roll between the tube (1* andthe rounded mouth of the filter-tube C downwardly and through the glandC within which it is squeezed by the carbonized-rubber rings Ccompressed by the compression-wheel U threaded on the neck of the gland.This gland prevents the escape of the feed-water through the bottom ofthe apparatus. The internal pressure of the feed-water forces the fabricagainst the walls of the filter-tube and percolates through the fabricand through the slots (1. These slots are sawed through the walls of thetube in lines offset vertically and laterally in order to utilize thewhole surface of the fabric, the inner edges of the slots beingchamfered to reduced friction on fabric.

In operation the feed-water is introduced direct from the pump, throughthe inlet B, through the valve B to the dome and filtering-tube. Thesnug fit between the tubes C and C prevents capillary absorption of oilor water by the reserve roll of filter fabric. The water percolates fromthe filter-tube into the center well A, thence through the ports Athence through the tubes A of the corresponding section of the annularchamber A* upwardly, thence through the port A down. wardly through thetubes, thence through the port A upwardly through the tubes to the portA thence through the valve B to the outlet B direct to the boiler.During its passage from the filter through the heater-tubes the waterhas been subjected to the heat of the exhaust-steam circulating roundand about the tubes in its passage through the annular chamber A. Thewhole apparatus can be cut out and the Water passed direct from thepumps to the boiler by screwing down the valve-stem B thus closing thevalves B and B and opening B by-passing the water through thecenter-division diaphragm in the valve-casing.

By the simple addition of an auxiliary valve D either the heater or thefilter can be cut out independent of the other, Figs. 5 and 6.

In the alternative form of our apparatus We employ an even number ofdivisions in the tube-sections in lieu of the uneven number in thepreferred form, and the chamber A communicates with the compartment A bymeans of a pipe or conduit D in lieu of ports A The conduit D leads to asupplemental valvecasing D in'which works a valve-stem D. Said stemcarries a valve V, adapted to close a port D leading from conduit D toone of the chambers of compartment A Said valve is also provided with aface adapted to control a port D leading from conduit D to a pipe D*,which conducts the water to port A from whence it is discharged, asheretofore described. A valve V, also secured on stem D, controls a portD leading direct from one of the chambers of compartment A to pipe D".The inlet B is also in direct communication with pipe D* by means of apipe D leading from a three-way valve 2 to casing D at D A pipe Dprovided with a valve, leads from point D of easing D direct to outletA.

To put the water through the heater and filter, open top valve up wide,open bottom valve out wide. The water enters at B, thence through valveB, through filter, through passage D, through port D to one of thechambers of compartment A up and down through tube-sections back toanother chamber of compartment A through port D", up through pipe D toport A thence to boiler. To put water through filter only, cutting outheater, open top valve up wide, shut bottom valve in tight. The waterpasses through filter as described, thence through the passage D,through port D through pipe D to port A, thence to boiler. To put waterthrough heater only, cutting out filter, shut top valve down tight, shutbottom valve in tight, open outlet-valve No. 1, open threeway plug-cockNo. 2. The water passes direct from pumps through cock No. 2 andconnections, thence up and down through tubes, thence through valve No.l and connections direct to boiler. To cut out both filter and heater,shut top valve down hard. The water passes direct from inlet B, throughvalve B to outlet B, to the boiler.

The apparatus is built to withstand the full boiler-pressure, preferablyof cast iron or steel. It may be built up of wrought sheetsteel or anycombination of metals or methods common to this art.

The apparatus is litted with safety appliances consisting of apressure-gage E and a relief-valve F, placed on the dome B". "hen thepressure registered on the gage E is in excess of the boiler-pressure,it indicates an impediment within the apparatus, which usually meansthat the filtering fabric is clogged. hen the filter becomes clogged,the gland C should be slacked off by the hand-wheel C, which willrelease the grip upon the extended portion of the filtering fabric,although said extended portion remains closely folded and substantiallywater-tight, especially when clogged by the impurities resulting fromfiltration. When the grip of gland C is released, the reduced portion Cof tube C becomes the point of least resistance to the water-pressure,whereupon the fabric will be forced through the gland and simultaneouslyunroll itself at the upper end, thus automatically exposing fresh fabricfor filtration without interrupting the flow of feed water. Should thepressure rise to the danger-point, it escapes through the relief-valveF.

To insert a fresh filtering fabric, remove the cover from the dome,withdraw the diaphragm C, and place the roll of fabric in place, asdescribed.

To prevent the exhaust-steam from taking a direct line through theannular space A", this space may be divided by vertical webs alternatelyextending upward and downward from the top and bottom to cause the steamto take a tortuous way through the heater.

Obviously whatis known in the art as double and triple filtrations canbe accomplished by doubling or tripling the fabric with or withoutinterposing slotted tubes 0 between.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patcntfis 1. In a combined heater and filter, anannular chamber formed about a center well; radiator-tubes extendingbetween the top and bottom of said chamber inlets and outlets in saidchamber; annular compartments formed adjacent the ends of said tubes; aperforated filter-tube dependent within said center well, and closed atthe bottom by a gland; a dome formed above said filter-tube, a flangeddiaphragm within the dome, having a tubular extension within the mouthof the filter-tube; a tubular filter fabric rolled inwardly upon itself,and located within the dome under said diaphragm; with its end carrieddownward within the filter-tube, and through the said gland; outletsfrom said center well through the tubes; and a triple-acting valvecontrol ling the inlet to the filter, the outlet from the heater, andhaving a bypass cutting out both filter and heater.

2. In a combined heater and filter; a heater comprising an annularchamber formed about a center well; radiator-tubes extending between thetop and bottom of said chamber, inlets and outlets in said chamber;annular sectional compartments formed adjacent the ends of said tubes; afilter comprising a perforated filter-tube dependent within said centerwell, and closed at the bottom by a gland; a dome formed above saidfilter-tube, a flanged diaphragm within said dome, having a tubularextension within the mouth of said filter-tube; a pressuregage and arelief-valve on said dome; a tubular filter fabric rolled upon itselfand located adjacent the mouth of the filtertube, with its end carrieddownwardly within the filter-tube and through the said gland;

outlets from center well through the heater;

a triple-acting valve comprising a center diaphragm dividing the inletfrom the outlet of the apparatus, a diaphragm dividing the said inletfrom the filter, and a diaphragm dividing the said outlet from theoutlet of the heater, a valve-stem controlling valve-gates located inline with valve seats formed in said diaphragms.

3. A filtercomprisinga well, a dome formed above said well; a perforatedfilter-tube dependent in said well, and closed at the bottom by a gland;a flanged diaphragm dividing said dome, and having a tubular extensionwithin the mouth of the liltentube; a tubular filter fabric rolled uponitself and located in the dome beneath said diaphragm, with its endcarried downwardly within the filter-tube, and through said gland; aninlet to said dome, and an outlet from said center well; valvescontrolling said inlet and outlet; and a pressure-gage and relief-valvelocated on said dome.

4:. In a combined heater and filter; a heater comprising an annularchamber formed about a center well; radiator-tubes extending between thetop and bottom of said chamber, inlets, and outlets in said chamber;annular compartments formed adjacent the ends of said tubes; aperforated filter-tube dependent within said center well, and closed atthe bottom by a gland; a dome formed above said filter-tube, a flangeddiaphragm within the dome, having a tubular extension within the mouthof the filter-tube; a tubular filter fabric rolled upon itself, andlocated within the dome under said diaphragm, with its end carrieddownwardly within the filter-tube, and through the said gland; outletsfrom said center well through the heater, and a tripleacting valvecontrolling the inlet to the filter, the outlet from the heater, andhaving a bypass cutting out both filter and heater; a three-way cock onthe main inlet with a branch connection direct through the heater to theoutlet thereof; a secondary triple-acting valve comprising a centerdiaphragm di- IIO viding the outlet from the well, from the outletthrough the first-mentioned triple-acting valve, a diaphragm dividingthe outlet. from the Well from the inlet to the heater, and a diaphragmdividing the inlet through the three-Way cock, from the'ontlet throughthe first-mentioned triple-acting valve; a valvestem controllingvalve-gates in line With valveseats formed in said diaphragms; and anin-

